Head of Clinical Education to study how technology can improve care

Cwm Taf University Health Board’s Head of Clinical Education will be championing the use of technology and informatics to improve care after being appointed to NHS Improvement’s Nurse Fellowship.

Dr Lesley Jones (pictured on the right) has a background in oncology nursing and nurse education and will take on the year-long role for three days a week, starting today (November 1st).

Dr Jones’ current role combines nursing, medicine and the delivery of clinical skills and the Fellowship will build on this, focusing on how technology and informatics can improve working, address variations in care and improve outcomes.

The role will see her visiting places which have become exemplars in digital healthcare and drawing parallels with the work going on across NHS Wales.

Dr Jones said: “It is rare to have an opportunity to visit and evaluate exemplar sites to see what a difference it is making to staff and patients care – this fellowship offers that experience.

“There is so much to learn about the ways in which digitisation can drive forward improvements in the education environment and the care setting.

“My project is about connecting the principles of organisational development and design with workforce engagement of digital technology for the benefit of patients and staff. I am looking forward to starting.”

Professor Jean White, Chief Nursing Officer for Wales, said: “Increasingly the affects of devolution are resulting in differences in approaches to health and care delivery across the UK.

“It is therefore good to see an opportunity such as this that allows a senior nurse to step out of her normal national context and look at issues such as technology and informatics that affect us all. I wish Lesley every success.”

Lynda Williams, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Patient Care at Cwm Taf University Health Board, said: “This is a great opportunity for Lesley and I wish her the best of luck with the Fellowship.

“Technology is being used in highly innovative ways across the NHS to improve patient care and outcomes and it will be fascinating to hear about some of the fantastic work which is taking place across the UK and look at how we can share learning across organisations.”